Green Tea May Protect From Alzheimer’s

Research with green tea and Alzheimer’s continues to show that the antioxidant properties in green tea (Camellia Sinensis) may in fact have the ability to decrease production of beta-amyloid, which is the protein which forms plaques in those affected by the disease.
What is Alzheimer’s?
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease to watch a loved one deal with and there are over 13 million cases throughout the world currently. The disease causes the brains nerve cells to cease to function, most likely due to a plaque which builds up between their delicate connections, making it difficult for them to communicate or transfer needed substance for their survival.

Combine this with the fact that there are millions more of us who contain the very same genetic pathway which may one day lead to the disease itself, and this type of research becomes rather significant. The non-medical public used to say that Alzheimer’s sometimes skips a generation, which gave some people a false sense of security. In truth, they have no real grasp of the disease, other than it does tend to fall under a heredity passed down disease at least 10 to 20 percent of the time. It can happen to anyone at any time regardless of race, gender, or health level.

Current Treatments for the Disease
There is no real reliable way to diagnose this disease in an individual who may be years away from exhibiting symptoms. While they are currently making headway on new drugs which are currently doing wonders for current sufferers, many people with a background to the disease would prefer to be a little more proactive than just hoping for an eventual cure.

Prevention of Alzheimer’s may be only a Cup of Tea Away
While there are no guarantees, the most recent research suggests that the antioxidant properties in green tea may give some folks a fighting chance at staving off Alzheimer’s. Studies at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles suggests that the tea has the effect of reducing plaque in the brain of genetically engineered mice by up to 90 percent, which is truly amazing. This research is currently being taken to human subjects with hopes that the tea will have the same effect on them.Green tea is a rather inexpensive herb which can be purchased and easily digested daily in the form of various drinks or foods. It has also been shown that green tea may help fight against certain forms of cancer and sun damage from UV rays. The amount of green tea recommended for maximum benefit is generally thought to be four to five cups, however some researchers recommend as much as 10, or as little as two.

Why is Green Tea considered Green?
There has been growing evidence that many of the prescription drugs people ingest and expel in the form of waste fluids, as well as the pills themselves which end up in waste water, are entering our natural waterways in the form of toxins. Currently, most sewage treatment plants around the world are not equipped to detect or remove such drugs. This puts the possibility of using homeopathic therapies as preventative measures, rather than waiting for the disease to take hold thereby bringing the necessity to use prescription drugs, as one of our best environmental health options to date.

Not Much Harm in this Preventative Measure
While green tea may in fact be given too much credit as a cure-all for such conditions as obesity, high cholesterol, and rheumatoid arthritis, the truth of the matter is there is some conclusive evidence suggesting that it may indeed have some very helpful prospects to the future. As long as you are not allergic, pregnant, or sensitive to caffeine, and if you have any family history of Alzheimer’s, it might not be such a bad idea to put yourself on a moderate diet of green tea… at least until the studies have dealt their final conclusions!

For more information or to subscribe at the introductory price of $10 a year, go to positivelygreen.com. Positively Green magazine launched in 2008 as a quarterly women’s magazine that covers every aspect of green from eco-friendly vacations to green fashion to green health. With articles that don’t just explain the problems, they outline solutions for busy people who want to make the change but don’t have the time to research solutions.

I definitely think that things like green tea and other herbs are beneficial, thought I am not sure they can really 'prevent" more than anything else... One thing I will say is that it is a better solution than taking different drugs and medicines. But when it comes down to it, I think the best way to prolong memory and brain health is to simply exercise it and continually challenge it with puzzles and thought inducing games.

I'm not a doc. But regarding Green Tea. For 5 yrs. I haven't gotten the flu/cold,etc. because I drink Green Tea every day.
Note: one more herb I swear by it, little by little herbs are the thing to take, period!

After reading all the comments, I think it's false hope to put ones faith in drinking green tea to stave off Alzheimers. In fact, I think that it could also make some people feel that perhaps by not drinking green tea (or whatever super food of the month we're told to eat to keep the nasty diseases at bay), they've contributed to their getting the disease. And yes, Alzheimers is a disease not a disorder as one person commented.
But by all means drink it, as it's probably better for you than most things we drink. Eat and drink healthily as much as you can. You've got a better chance of staying well in body and mind when you do so, but don't think it's a magic bullet to avoiding illness.
Speaking about avoiding illness - your picture of the green tea looks a little unappealing. Looks more like a cup of pea soup - and what's with the scum floating on the top?? My tea never looks like that.

Hi. I've been living in Japan for 30 years now, and most people here drink green tea. But there are lots of them who still have Alzheimer's disease. It is not as simple as that. It would be so nice if sipping green tea every day of your life could protect you from all sorts of illnesses. You just have to look at the statistics of the health of the Japanese population to realize that even with their healthy diet, they still have strokes, heart attacks, cancers, Alzheimer's, diabetes etc etc.